Campbell Biology (10th Edition)

Chapter 27 - 27.2 - Concept Check: 4

Answer

Yes, this strain of nonpathogenic bacterium with resistance to antibiotics could pose as a viable health risk to people because the genes for the antibiotic resistance could very well be transferred to a pathogenic bacterium through transformation, transduction, or conjugation. If this were to occur, the pathogenic bacteria would develop antibiotic-resistance. In general, transformation, transduction, and conjugation increase the spread of resistance genes.

Work Step by Step

Consider the nature of of the transfer of genes through bacterial cells. Even though the original bacteria was nonpathogenic, its antibacterial resistance gene could easily be transferred to a pathogenic cell, thus turning the pathogenic cell resistant to antibiotics.